Trade Infrastructure Research Articles

South Africa-Africa trade: Implications for South Africa in intra-Africa trade with the African Continental Free Trade Area in place

South Africa’s trade was examined for the period 2001-2021 to give insights into current trade with Africa as this has implications for its trade in the African Continental Free Trade Area. The structure of goods traded, trade complementarity, ease of market access, trade intensity with regional groups, and its trade integration dimension with Africa were examined. Results show that (i) Africa is an important market for South Africa’s manufactured products with greater skill and technology content and there is ease of market access for these products into African markets; (ii) its trade with Africa is highly complementary; and (iii) it has strong trade linkages with Africa’s regional groups. This is a foundation which South Africa would utilise to consolidate, broaden and strengthen its trade in the AfCFTA because (i) more complementary trade opportunities would emerge which could be harnessed in addition to current opportunities; (ii) African markets would open up more as trade barriers are reduced further, allowing products more access; (iii) current trade linkages with regional groups would strengthen as trade barriers are reduced, thus broadening the scope of South Africa’s trade in Africa; and (iv) regional value chains and production clusters initiatives would arise as market access improves as well as when new and dynamic areas of comparative advantages emerge. While the AfCFTA offers opportunities for countries to tap into under-exploited export markets in other countries and to import cheaper inputs, there are challenges in accessing and utilising such opportunities due to various non-tariff barriers like trade infrastructure; unharmonised trade facilitation, documentation and procedures; as well as stiff competition.

Transport Infrastructure and Patterns of Trade in the Philippines

Transport Infrastructure and Patterns of Trade in the Philippines

The Impact of Socio-Economic Challenges and Technological Progress on Economic Inequality: An Estimation with the Perelman Model and Ricci Flow Methods

The article examines the impact of 16 key parameters of the Georgian economy on economic inequality, using the Perelman model and Ricci flow mathematical methods. The aim of the study is to conduct a deep analysis of the impact of socio-economic challenges and technological progress on the dynamics of the Gini coefficient. The article examines the following parameters: income distribution, productivity (GDP per hour), unemployment rate, investment rate, inflation rate, migration (net negative), education level, social mobility, trade infrastructure, capital flows, innovative activities, access to healthcare, fiscal policy (budget deficit), international trade (turnover relative to GDP), social protection programs, and technological access. The results of the study confirm that technological innovations and social protection programs have a positive impact on reducing inequality. Productivity growth, improving the quality of education and strengthening R&D investments increase the possibility of inclusive development. Sensitivity analysis shows that social mobility and infrastructure are important factors that affect economic stability. The accuracy of the model is confirmed by high R² values (80-90%) and the statistical reliability of the Z-statistic (<0.05). The study uses Ricci flow methods, which allow for a geometric analysis of the transformation of economic parameters in time and space. Recommendations include the strategic introduction of technological progress, the expansion of social protection programs, improving the quality of education and encouraging international trade, which will contribute to economic sustainability and reducing inequality. The article highlights multifaceted approaches that combine technological innovation and responses to socio-economic challenges to ensure sustainable and inclusive economic development.

관료제 권력 측정: 문재인 정부의 중앙부처를 중심으로

This study presents the results of measuring the relative size and ranking of bureaucratic power among 44 central administrative agencies during the Moon Jae-in administration to analyze the phenomenon of bureaucratic power. The results of the Bureaucratic Power Index (BPI) measurement indicate that the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, and Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy ranked high in relative bureaucratic power, in that order, while the Rural Development Administration, Statistics Korea, Defense Acquisition Program Administration, Public Procurement Service, and Military Manpower Administration ranked low in that order. When compared with the results of previous studies measuring the administrations of Roh Moo-hyun, Lee Myung-bak, and Park Geun-hye, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, Ministry of Education, National Intelligence Service, and Ministry of the Interior and Safety consistently ranked high in relative standing across all four administrations. Conversely, the Ministry of Government Legislation, Military Manpower Administration, Rural Development Administration, National Human Rights Commission, Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, Public Procurement Service, and Cultural Heritage Administration consistently ranked low in relative standing. Notably, the so-called “power agencies,” such as the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Supreme Prosecutors' Office, National Police Agency, and National Intelligence Service, exhibited higher BPI scores and relative rankings under the conservative administrations of Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye compared to the progressive administrations of Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in. The theoretical and practical contribution of this study lies in emphasizing the necessity of checks and democratic control over bureaucratic power institutions.

Seroprevalence of peste des petits ruminants in sheep and goats managed under pastoral and agro-pastoral systems.

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an infectious disease that imposes substantial economic burdens on small ruminants (SR) production. For Tanzania to develop efficient management and eradication plans, it is essential to comprehend the seroprevalence of PPR designated for global elimination by 2030. This study investigated the prevalence of PPR in animals kept under pastoral and agropastoral communities in Tanzania. A total of 1,128 blood samples from SR were collected and analyzed for PPR-specific antibodies using the HPPR-b ELISA technique. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors. The overall seroprevalence was 10%. Higher seropositivity was observed in the Kiteto, Longido, and Simanjiro districts of the northern zone and the Mbarali district of the southern highlands, with the seroprevalence decreasing trend from the northern to southern zones. Multivariate logistic regression analysis for risk factors identified significant differences in seroprevalence across disease surveillance zones, with odds ratios (OR) ranging from 2 to 3. Agropastoral production systems exhibited lower PPR seroprevalence compared to pastoral systems. The increasing seropositivity in the Mbarali district suggests a southward spread of PPR, increasing a threat to Tanzania`s southern regions and neighboring countries. The disease`s dissemination is closely linked to livestock trading infrastructure, highlighting the need for periodic seromonitoring. Control efforts should prioritize highly affected northern zones and implement strict regulations on animal movement to protect less-affected southern areas.

We are all in the same boat: Cross-border spillovers of climate shocks through international trade and supply chain

Abstract Are landlocked countries at risk from sea-level rise? We identify a new mechanism where natural disaster shocks influence countries’ macroeconomic performance through cross-border trade spillovers. Analyzing global data on climate disasters, infrastructure, trade, and the macroeconomy from 1970 to 2019, we find that climate disasters impacting ports, critical infrastructure for international trade, reduce imports, exports, and economic output in both the affected country and its major trade partner (both upstream and downstream) countries. The GDP effects on main upstream and downstream countries are as large as those in directly impacted countries: While directly affected countries offset climate disaster damages with increased government spending and investment, trade partners do not. Effective adaptation efforts, including building climate-resilient infrastructure and implementing disaster relief measures, must account for the cross-border spillover effects of climate disasters.

Reliability of Inland Water Transportation Complex Network Based on Percolation Theory: An Empirical Analysis in the Yangtze River

Inland water transportation is regarded as a crucial component of global trade, yet its reliability has been increasingly challenged by uncertainties such as extreme weather, port congestion, and geopolitical tensions. Although substantial research has focused on the structural characteristics of inland water transportation networks, the dynamic responses of these networks to disruptions remain insufficiently explored. This gap in understanding is critical for enhancing the resilience of global transportation systems as trade volumes grow and risks intensify. In this study, percolation theory was applied to evaluate the reliability of the Yangtze River transportation network. Ship voyage data from 2019 were used to construct a complex network model, and simulations of node removal were performed to identify key vulnerabilities within the network. The results showed that the failure of specific nodes significantly impacts the network’s connectivity, suggesting which nodes should be prioritized for protection. This research offers a dynamic framework for the assessment of inland water transportation network reliability and provides new insights that could guide policy decisions to improve the resilience of critical waterway systems. By identifying potential points of failure, this study contributes to the development of a more robust global trade infrastructure.

Inside story of impact investing in emerging market: A systematic review to measure the responsible and sustainable investing pattern using the ADO framework

AbstractImpact investing has emerged as a significant global phenomenon as it provides a valuable avenue for investors to shape their cognitive decision‐making ability to have a societal impact. The present study aims to review the existing literature on impact investing systematically. It tries to understand the major motivational factors that impact the investor in impact investing using the ADO framework by linking it with McClelland's Theory of Motivation, geographical areas, journal of publication, and type of research articles for impact investing, significant research gaps in impact investing, theoretical and managerial implications and future research of impact investing. PRISMA framework has been used to finalize the articles from the Scopus database. As a result, 154 articles have been identified from the year 2011 to 2024. The result identifies three motivational factors that drive the investor to invest in impact investing. It includes financial, social, and self‐actualization. The study will guide the policymaker in introducing comprehensive regulatory policies in the area of impact investing. Accordingly, tax incentives and subsidies should be granted for promoting investment in impact investing. The development of proper infrastructure for trading in impact investing needs attention.

PROSPECTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRADE AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND TURKEY IN THE NEW ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT

Introduction: The purpose of the article is to determine the prospects for the development of trade and economic relations between Russia and Turkey at the present stage. The relevance поставленной of this goal is due to the fact, that Turkey did not join the economic sanctions against Russia and took advantage of the favorable market conditions to increase the supply of priority goods to the Russian market, but the prospects for the development of these relations are currently not clearly defined, as a result of which the aspect requires further in-depth study. Methods: Research methods are analysis and systematization of information, as well as methods of generalization and analogy. Results: The results of the study show that Russia is one of the main suppliers of energy resources for Turkey, and Turkey occupies a unique position as the main supplier of consumer goods, such as textiles, clothing, food, household appliances and electronics. The study revealed significant fluctuations in the share of trade flows between countries depending on the foreign policy situation and economic sanctions, which reflects the high sensitivity of trade to political factors. Available data: The article presents data on trade turnover between Russia and Turkey for the period from 2015 to 2023. Discussion: It is concluded that the development of Russian-Turkish relations is based on mutual benefit, which allows us to judge their further development. Promising areas for the development of trade and economic relations between the two countries are: further development of parallel imports and Turkey's participation in supply chains, increasing the supply of Turkish-made consumer goods to the Russian market, as well as joint cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, including joint construction and commissioning of industrial facilities. In the current political and economic environment, new prospects for deepening Russian-Turkish relations have emerged, including currency cooperation and the development of the infrastructure of trade and economic ties. In the long term, both countries may consider cooperation opportunities in related areas, such as nuclear medicine, the production of isotopes and radioactive materials.

Revesting the spatial spillover effects of renewable energy in curbing carbon emissions: Evidence from China

Renewable energy is fundamental to achieving China's peak carbon and carbon neutrality targets. Despite the extremely rapid growth in the share of renewable energy generation in terms of provincial-level regions, the impact of renewable energy generation on carbon emission reduction and whether this association is spatially correlated have not been fully recognized. To address this issue, this paper explores the spatial impact effect of renewable energy applications on carbon emissions using Chinese provincial panel data from 1990 to 2020 and a multi-panel spatial econometric model. The results show that the contribution of emission reduction mainly comes from the provincial clean energy mix, while the exclusion of out-of-province power plants also helps to curb their carbon emissions. In addition, in the context of large-scale penetration of renewable energy, grid infrastructure for cross-provincial power trading will contribute to cross-provincial emission reduction. Regulators should take measures to promote coordination of emission reduction policies among provinces in a unified national carbon market, rather than simplifying the allocation of responsibilities in provincial markets. Based on the findings of this paper, there is a need to rationalize and optimize the geospatial distribution of renewable energy projects in the future, so as to maximize the potential of renewable energy to contribute to carbon emission reduction.

Designing and improving the efficiency of placement of logistics infrastructure for storage, distribution and trade of agri-food products

Purpose: The article considers a methodological approach to the formation and determination of potential locations of logistics infrastructure: warehouse storage facilities, wholesale distribution centers for storage, marketing and trade of agro-food products.Design/methodology/approach: A study of 204 objects - administrative districts and cities of Kazakhstan, where the production, storage, distribution and trade of agri-food products is carried out. The standardization of indicators, cluster, correlation-regression, factor analysis was carried out, the method of ranking and center of gravity.Findings: At the first stage of the study, potential locations of distribution centers of agricultural products were identified based on the proposed criteria. Based on factor analysis, new factors have been formed in order to determine the criteria for choosing the location of the logistics infrastructure. Cluster analysis made it possible to differentiate territories and determine the characteristics of the logistics infrastructure for their placement, depending on their specialization. At the second stage, the potential locations of logistics infrastructure and the geographical location of objects on the territory of administrative-territorial units were clarified. At the third stage, with the help of weighting coefficients and an integral indicator of the attractiveness of the location of logistics infrastructures, the service area of the logistics infrastructure of storage, sales and trade is determined in accordance with potential locations on the territory. The proposed approach, in contrast to the existing ones, takes into account the peculiarities of the functioning of the storage, marketing and trade infrastructure and links these facilities with transport and warehouse availability in the regions.Research limitations/implications: The study is aimed at complementing existing approaches and methods for determining the location of logistics infrastructure facilities with a more detailed account of the specialization of districts and the economic potential of regions.Practical implications: The conclusions allow us to use different criteria when determining the location of logistics infrastructures depending on their purpose. They also provide important information in the process of designing logistics infrastructure, conducting a differentiated investment policy during their construction and operation.Originality: In this article, a new point of view is given on the choice of criteria for the placement and determination of the number of logistics infrastructure, based on their functional purpose, specialization of districts and the potential of regions, which increase their efficiency.

Off-grid: Trading infrastructure for atmosphere in Bucharest, Romania

Categorically, to be positioned off the municipal grid has meant social illegibility. Those living off-grid, in turn, have been shown necessarily to be hyper resourceful in order to improvise a claim of membership upon the city. Coming on the heels of decades of liberalizing reforms in post-socialist Romania, however, this essay turns attention onto Bucharest’s unplanned and unincorporated suburbs to detail an ongoing experiment to recast the politics of living off-grid. Beyond the reach of Bucharest’s municipal infrastructure, thousands of suburban homes have taken shape. These developments invite upwardly mobile residents to trade their socialist-era apartments located within the municipal grid for so-called “American-style” homes lacking in basic municipal services but that are newer, bigger, and more comfortable. These homes attempt to recast off-grid as a viable site for participating in an “imagined First World.” The rub, as this essay details, is that the necessary reliance upon private alternatives to the municipal grid cannot support these ambitions, leading to indignities that cast a long shadow over emergent senses of cosmopolitan belonging.

Impact of the Belt and Road Initiative on the United States’ textiles and clothing imports from Asian countries: Evaluating the significance of Chinese aid and ACFTA

This study analyzes how Chinese aid and the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) within the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) impact Asian countries’ textiles and clothing (T&C) exports to the United States (US). The BRI is viewed as a hub-and-spoke network, with China as the central hub providing resources to the spoke countries along the Belt and Road region. These resources are intended to improve trade infrastructure and attract export-oriented foreign direct investment in the T&C sector. Utilizing an extended gravity model with a panel dataset, the study examines the effects of Chinese aid and ACFTA on the US T&C imports from 16 Asian economies between 2008 and 2019. The findings, obtained through the application of the feasible generalized least squares method, indicate a positive impact of Chinese aid and ACFTA on T&C exports. Policymakers are advised to leverage the BRI to stimulate T&C sector growth for export purposes, thereby creating more value for all stakeholders.

Integration Assessment of Renewable Energy Sources (RESs) and Hydrogen Technologies in Fish Farms: A Techno-Economical Model Dispatch for an Estonian Fish Farm

A fundamental aspect of fish farms is their energy consumption, which is essential for various activities like water supply, pool aeration, thermal conditioning, lighting, filtration, and recirculation systems. Due to volatile prices and rising energy use, costs have surged, requiring energy-optimization solutions for economic viability and pollution reduction. In this context, this study aims to evaluate renewable energy integration in these installations based on real data, assessing current operations, proposing renewable energy optimization, and exploring hydrogen systems for energy needs, using HOMER PRO® to analyze different scenarios. For this purpose, it targets a rainbow trout farm in Estonia, and by simulating the various hybrid configurations proposed, it aims to optimize its energy production and storage, ensuring feasibility and technical integration. The results of the simulations primarily demonstrate the potential for using the byproduct of electrolysis to cover the oxygen demand in these types of processes, reducing the demand for raw materials. Additionally, it is observed that storage enhances performance in isolated systems; however, the economically viable integration of hydrogen technology requires three assumptions: a regulatory framework allowing surplus energy sales to the grid, an existing infrastructure for hydrogen trading, and high energy purchase prices.

Effect of International Trade on the Economic Growth of Nepal

The study explores the relationship between exports, imports, remittance, and economic growth of Nepal for the 1974/75 to 2021/22 fiscal year. Descriptive and analytical research designs were employed on time series data obtained from secondary sources. The Augmented Dickey-Fuller unit root test, co-integration technique, and Error Correction Model (ECM) were employed for empirical investigation. The impact of exports, imports, and remittances on economic growth was analyzed through the ordinary least square regression method for the long run relationship. The result reveals the existence of a long-run relationship between imports, remittances, and gross domestic product. The effect of exports and imports was statistically significant on the economic growth of Nepal and the effects of remittance was statistically insignificant on economic growth. The result emphasizes that the Government should ensure the export promotion policies to achieve Nepal's high and sustainable economic growth by investing in trade infrastructure and export subsidies and creating a favorable environment that encourages using remittance money to support productive sectors of the economy.

Examining the long-run relationship between stock market development and Nigerian economic growth

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the long-run relationship between stock market development and Nigerian economic growth from 1980 to 2020.Design/methodology/approachMarket capitalization, number of listed companies, total value traded ratio and turnover ratio are used. An autoregressive distributed lag model is used for the analysis.FindingsThe market capitalization ratio and turnover ratio have positively significant links with economic growth. The number of listed companies has a negative and non-significant impact on economic growth. Total value traded ratio has a negatively significant link with economic growth in the short run. The positive but insignificant relationship between traded value ratio and turnover ratio in the long run growth means that the Nigerian stock market is growth inducing and on the right track as stock market liquidity drives growth.Research limitations/implicationsThe government and Security Exchange Commission should increase the market liquidity level by improving the trading infrastructure. The government and regulatory authorities should improve and effectively implement the existing policies that would ensure stock market growth. This facilitates the investors’ speed to purchase and sell shares. The Securities and Exchange Commission should reduce transaction costs to encourage active trading activities. The market should be diversified with investment instruments such as derivatives, futures and swap options which would limit the adverse effect of listed companies in the market. To increase the stock market liquidity, the Security and Exchange Commission should apply moral suasion to bring private companies that have met certain financial thresholds to convert to public companies. Government should improve on the legislation to encourage more private companies to list on the stock exchange.Originality/valueThe study findings add value in that stock market development has a positive impact on economic growth in Nigeria.

Food retail in rural areas: Choosing the optimal format

Tightening competition among food retailers stimulates them to develop new formats of stores for urban spaces, which also can be economically efficient in rural areas. Appearance of a new format of stores that excites clientele’s interest and is able to compete with pick-up points and liquor stores may become a key to the domination in the market. The paper examines the prospects of creating an optimal format for food retailers that hold potential for spread in rural areas. Methodologically, the study relies on a systems approach, the cyclical theory of retail, and spatial development theories. The method encompasses three stages: first, holding a comparative analysis of the format structure of food retailers for 2015–2023; second, evaluating the territorial distribution of the two formats of retail chains (hard discounters and convenience stores) using the case of Volga and Ural Federal Districts; third, determining new formats of retail chains outside cities. Based on the analysis of market trends in the development of retail chain stores the paper suggests a conceptual model of the optimal retail format for rural areas with respect to product range, pricing, distribution of sales area, and additional services. The suggestions about the improvements in the model of the retail format for rural areas may spur the retail trade growth and promote the development of trade infrastructure outside urban areas.

Assessing the effects of logistics performance on export and competitiveness using SEM methodology: evidence from firm-level data

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to determine the importance of trade logistics in export intensification and competitiveness on the level of individual companies. Within the framework of logistics performance, the influences of customs efficiency and physical trade infrastructure quality were tested on export while the contribution to improving competitiveness was analyzed through logistics services and the Logistics 4.0 component. In addition, the influence of competitiveness on companies’ exports was examined.Design/methodology/approachThe research was conducted based on a survey intended for the management of export-oriented companies which was distributed through the system of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia. A total of 298 responses were collected and provided the basis for the application of structural equation modeling (SEM) approach.FindingsThe physical trade infrastructure was found to be a significant factor in stimulating exports, while the quality of logistics services has a statistically significant impact on the level of competitiveness. The results also indicate that improving the competitiveness of companies gives positive results in stimulating their exports.Originality/valueStudies that analyze the impact of trade logistics using primary data from surveys are rare. In this paper, for the first time, the SEM methodology was applied in the assessment of logistics performance effects on export and competitiveness of individual companies. Also, the impact of the logistics 4.0 concept on selected companies’ performance was empirically tested for the first time.

The emotional sight of neoliberalized port infrastructure in the city of Poti, Georgia

ABSTRACT This article traces an ethnography-based analysis of the historical Poti port as it has been socially imagined through the lenses of ideological transformations. Situated at a nexus of Black Sea trading infrastructure, the city of Poti has been known as the gateway of Georgia, between Asia and Europe. The port, in its current location since the late nineteenth century, has been an economic asset to colonial powers (Russian Tsarist, Soviet state-socialist) and neoliberal economic agendas. Its infrastructure, which encompasses a specific field of trading and transit functions, encapsulates a social layer while affecting the daily lives of inhabitants. People’s reflections on either development or decay can evoke emotional perceptions of and reflections on this urban infrastructure. Living and producing infrastructure, gazing at constructed landscapes and associating oneself with particular spatial reflections all have an immersive effect on the city’s morale, evoking feelings of pride, shame and uncertainty. Thus, I aim to present in what sense the port is attached in people’s reflections to these emotional domains. I contend that specific neoliberal ideological experiences set the area of Poti port morally and socially apart from the inhabitants’ everyday reflections.

India–ASEAN Economic Relations and North-east India: Act East Policy as a New Paradigm

The article delves into three aspects: (a) India–ASEAN economic relationship since the last three decades of Look East Policy (LEP), (b) the achievements of North-east India (NEI) under LEP and Act East Policy (AEP) and (c) adding a note on AEP as a new ‘development paradigm’ in NEI. The study finds that the India–ASEAN economic relationship deepened in the post-LEP period as merchandise trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows increased manifold. However, neither LEP nor AEP made any significant impact on NEI in terms of economic growth, exports and FDI inflows. Economic growth stagnated and even decelerated in some states in NEI, while exports and FDI inflows remained abysmally low. LEP was a failed policy instrument for NEI despite many claims and assumptions. The major reason was infrastructure deficits and poor connectivity in the region for a prolonged period. AEP has emerged as a new ‘development paradigm’ with renewed thrust on infrastructure buildup and connectivity constructions. The ongoing and completed connectivity projects in rail, road, air and water, improvement in power and telecom, multimodal logistic park in Assam and improvement of trade infrastructure in NEI under AEP would attract investment from both domestic foreign sources, enhance productive capacity, increase exports and accelerate economic growth. AEP is expected to open new possibilities for trade and investments in NEI through regional economic integration with South Asian and South-east Asian economies given geographical location, ethno-cultural proximity, historical linkages and resource endowments.